Committee advances three ordinances on appropriations, insurance and senior donations to Council

The Finance Committee unanimously recommended three ordinances to City Council on June 17, 2025: Ordinance 25-100 to amend original appropriations, Ordinance 25-101 to renew property and casualty insurance, and Ordinance 25-104 to accept donations for the Office on Aging (Senior Center Fund).

Finance Director Jenny Esarey said appropriations changes in Ordinance 25-100 include additional contractual services for Parks & Recreation (electrical repairs at ballfields, additional porta-potty rentals, AED maintenance via CINTAS), a higher health insurance cost driven by a retiree replaced by an employee on family coverage, additional engineering funds for GPD, and an early fireworks contract for July 4.

On insurance, Esarey said the renewal from Selective totaled $349,651 (a 7.6% increase from $323,000 the prior year). She noted an audit-based adjustment could add roughly $2,000–$5,000 and that cyber insurance renewal is approximately a 7% increase; she recommended a not-to-exceed total of $354,651 for property and casualty and related coverages.

Regarding Ordinance 25-104, Esarey said the Senior Center has begun receiving donations and the ordinance would allow the Finance Department to accept donations and use them in the Senior Center Fund for programs. Law Director Tom Kelly said state statutes affect donation acceptance and staff are researching whether a broader citywide donations ordinance is needed.

Each ordinance was recommended to Council by voice vote (Yeas 3, Nays 0). The items will proceed to full Council for final action.